Halichoeres Chrysus acting weird

[mav3rick478]

So I've had him for 2 weeks now, he was at my LFS since December. First few days he disappeared as was expected but then has always been out and about ever since hovering over the rocks, sand and some corals looking for food. He eats fine, actually he is a pig eating flake, pellets frozen foods and all my mini brittle stars, I've seen him pick one out of a crevice toss him and gobble him up then find the piece of leg that escaped and eat it too. Although he does not touch any of the flatworms in the tank which is one of the reasons I got him. He gets along with my Percula Clown, Coral Beauty and Pajama Cardinal great.

Last weekend I really cleaned the glass and ever since then all he does now is stay in the lower left corner of the tank near where I believe he buries himself at night and just pecks on the glass. You can hear him pecking the glass, I've also noticed that just behind his eyes there are black spots while he is doing this. Those spots disappear when my white lights turn off and he kind of calms down and basically just swims in the rock work near that same corner. I'm thinking he is seeing his reflection and is trying to defend his territory or something. Anyone else seen this behavior, will it pass? I've been thinking of adding a Melanarus Wrasse to control my flatworms since he hasn't touched any to my knowledge. But with the way he is acting I'm afraid there would be a battle to the death.

 

[eatbreakfast]

If he is seeing his reflection his behavior should be bold, trying to spar with the perceived intruder. More sheepish behavior suggests he was intimidated. I can't really tell for sure which based on the description. If he is being timid, time and feedings will usually take care of it.

If you decide to add the melanurus wrasse just use a social acclimation box to observe the possible interactions. Usually they coexist just fine.

 

[evolved]

And I would add he might be a bit underfed with some of the behavior you've described too.

 

[mav3rick478]

I'm leaning towards being bold because he is non stop pecking the glass in that corner of the tank and you can see him breathing heavily and just going back and forth. I even put my hand there and he backed off slowly till I moved my hand away and back at attacking the glass. If it persists for more than a week I'm gonna let some algae just grow on the glass and see if that stops his behavior.

If he would eat the flatworms like I had hoped he wouldn't be hungry, lol. He eats well and is not skinny at all, as a matter of fact he and my Coral Beauty are the pigs of the tank. My daughter is always amazed at how much and how fast the 2 of them eat the food. They get fed daily plus he has all the mini brittle stars to eat too.

Thanks for the suggestion of the acclimation box, will definitely do that.